Manuscript Guidelines

Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:

 

  1. Document Setup & Layout
  • Page Size & Margins:
    • Page Size: A4 (210 × 297 mm).
    • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
  • Page Setup:
    • Use a two-column layout of Narrow layout using 0.5cm of spacing between the two column.
    • Number all pages consecutively in the footer using Arabic numerals, centered at the bottom.
  • Line Spacing:
    • Use one spacing throughout the document (set this in your word processor).
    • For tables, figures, and references, single spacing may be used if needed, but maintain overall consistency.

 

  1. Font & Typography
  • Primary Font: Cambria.
  • Font Size:
    • Main Text: 12-point.
    • Section Headings: 14-point, bold.
    • Title (on Title Page): 16-point, bold.
  • Consistency:
    • Use Cambria and the specified font sizes consistently across all sections.

 

  1. Title Page & Author Information
  • Title Page Layout:
    • Centered at the top in 16-point, bold Cambria.
    • On one line, list all author names (e.g., “Ali Warsame, Farax Ilmi, Ifrah Ali”).
    • On the next line, list the institutional affiliations (e.g., “University of Tusaale, Institute of Research”).
    • On the following line, provide the corresponding email addresses (e.g., “jamac@tusaale.edu.so; ifka @tusaale.edu.so”).
    • Title:
    • Author Information:
  • Abstract & Keywords:
    • Immediately following the title and author information on the same page, include a concise abstract (maximum 250 words) in 12-point Cambria.
    • Provide a list of 4–6 keywords right after the abstract in 12-point Cambria.
    • Abstract:
    • Keywords:

 

  1. Headings & Section Titles
  • Primary Section Headings:
    • Use 14-point, bold Cambria and center these headings (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion).
  • Secondary Headings:
    • Use 12-point, bold Cambria, left-aligned for sub-sections (e.g., “2.1 Data Collection”).

 

  1. Figures, Tables, and Captions
  • Placement & Numbering:
    • Embed figures and tables in the text near their first reference.
    • Number figures and tables consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Table 1).
  • Captions & Titles:
    • Use 12-point Cambria for all captions.
    • Place figure captions below the figures and table captions above the tables.
    • Ensure each caption clearly describes the content.

 

  1. Citations & References
  • Citation Style:
    • Adopt the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style for in-text citations and the reference list.
  • Reference List Formatting:
    • Format the reference list in 12-point Cambria using a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for each entry.
    • Confirm that every in-text citation has a corresponding full reference entry.

 

  1. Additional Formatting Considerations
  • Equations & Mathematical Expressions:
    • Format equations using your word processor’s equation editor in 12-point Cambria.
    • Label all symbols and variables clearly.
  • Paragraphs:
    • Start new paragraphs with a standard indent or by adding an extra line space between paragraphs to enhance readability.
  • File Format for Submission:
    • Prepare your manuscript as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) and then convert/export to PDF as required.
  • Language:
    • Manuscripts may be submitted in Somali, Arabic, or English; however, all formatting guidelines above must be followed regardless of the language used.